Female urinary device

ABSTRACT

A device to facilitate urination by a female from an erect or upright position. The device comprises only two separable parts, a funnel and a flexible tube and can easily be carried in purse, pocket or fanny pack. Fabricated from a flexible material, the funnel is contoured to conform to the labia region of the female anatomy. Soft, rounded edges, allows a user to hold the funnel against her body with sufficient pressure to form a seal without discomfort and without the feel of an adhesive. Since the material is flexible, the funnel can be manipulated to be wider or narrower as desired. A flexible tube is detachably mounted on the funnel to form a flow path directed away from the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to personal appliances. Morespecifically, the present invention is drawn to a device that permits afemale to urinate without sitting.

2. Description of the Related Art

Public toilets are often in such an unsanitary state that a female useris loath to sit. In such instances, layers of toilet paper are utilizedto create a barrier between the user's bare skin and the toilet seat.This scenario, however, is not fool proof and thus, does engenderconfidence for the user. In these instances, a device that would permita female user to stand while urinating without splattering and/orwetting her undergarments and clothes would certainly be a welcomeaddition to the art. Such a device would be of use out door enthusiastssuch as hikers, campers, horsewomen, etc. Other potential users wouldinclude handicapped women, women who live in areas with inadequatebathroom facilities and transsexuals.

The related art is awash with urinary devices especially adapted tofemale use. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,496,355 (Hall et al.) U.S. Pat.No. 4,795,449 (Schneider et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,151 (Ball) andU.S. Pat. No. 4,846,819 (Welch) are drawn to devices include supportstructure for wear.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,484 (Mozell), U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,890 (Tafur) andU.S. Pat. No. 6,202,225 B1 (Beck et al.) disclose urinary devices thatinclude parts that are disposed of after each use. This requires a userto maintain a stock of the disposable parts.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,736 (Block) shows a urinary device that requires anadhesive to provide a fluid-tight seal between a container and theexternal tissue of a user.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,216 (Li) describes a urinary device made of a rigidplastic material.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,176 (Magiera et al.) discloses a urinary device thatincorporates intricately designed inner and outer sealing rings. Suchdesign would add to manufacturing costs.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,998 (Irazabal) shows a urinary device having a tubepermanently sealed to the funnel body. This arrangement presentsdifficulty when attempting to thoroughly clean the tube.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or incombination, is seen to disclose a compact, easy-to-use female urinarydevice as will be subsequently described and claimed in the instantinvention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is drawn to a device to facilitate urination by afemale from an erect or upright position. Compact and easy to use, thedevice comprises only two separable parts, a funnel and a flexible tubeand can easily be carried in purse, pocket or fanny pack. Fabricatedfrom a flexible material, the funnel is contoured to conform to thelabia region of the female anatomy. Soft, rounded edges allow a user tohold the funnel against her body with sufficient pressure to form a sealwithout discomfort and without the icky feel of an adhesive. Since thematerial is flexible, the funnel can be manipulated to be wider ornarrower as desired. A flexible tube is detachably mounted on the funnelto form a flow path directed away from the user.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide adevice, which device will facilitate urination by a female in a standingposition.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device to facilitateurination by a female in a standing position, which device is compactand conveniently portable.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device tofacilitate urination by a female in a standing position, which device isseparable into two parts for easy and thorough cleaning.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device tofacilitate urination by a female in a standing position, which device iscomfortable and easy to use.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof for the purposes described which are inexpensive,dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a female urinary deviceaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front, perspective view of a female urinary device accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top, perspective view of a female urinary device accordingto the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Attention is directed to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings wherein the urinarydevice of the present invention is generally indicated at 10. Device 10consists of two separable parts, a funnel 12 and a flow tube 14. A wall12 a of funnel 12 is contoured to conform to the labia region L of afemale's anatomy. The lower end of the funnel is configured as ahemisphere. The funnel is provided with a nipple portion 16. Nipple 16opens into the funnel at the lower end 12 a. Funnel 12 is compact havinga length of approximately 1¾ inches. The nipple has a length of ½ of aninch. At its widest point the funnel's diameter is approximately 0.96 ofan inch. These dimensions permit the funnel to be easily carried asnoted above and yet large enough to contain and direct urine flow.Funnel 12 and nipple 16 are integral and are fabricated from a flexibleplastic material. All funnel walls and edges are rounded to enhancecomfort. Though flexible, the component is durable, reusable and isdesigned to last indefinitely. Flexible latex tube 14 is detachablypositioned on nipple 16. The friction fit of the tube on the nipple issuch that no leaking will occur. The walls of the funnel slope downwardso that liquid flow is directed toward the nipple so as to exit thedevice via tube 14.

In use, the open, contoured walls of the funnel are gently but firmlypressed against the labia region adjacent the vagina as illustrated inFIG. 1. Gentle hand pressure will ensure that no leakage will occur.Tube 14 pointed away from the body to avoid splattering on the user'sclothes. The device may be easily rinsed and/or wiped clean after use.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A female urinary device adapted to facilitate urination by a femalewhen the female is standing, comprising: a compact funnel member, saidfunnel member having a length and a diameter; a contoured opening formedon said funnel member, said opening contoured to conform to a labialarea of a female's anatomy; a hemispherical base portion positionedopposite said contoured opening; a nipple integral with said funnelmember, said nipple having a passageway opening into said hemisphericalbase portion; and an elongate tube, said tube frictionally attached tosaid nipple and extending therefrom.
 2. A female urinary device asrecited in claim 1, wherein said funnel member is fabricated from aflexible plastic material.
 3. A female urinary device as recited inclaim 1, wherein said elongate tube is fabricated from one of a latex orsilicone material.
 4. A female urinary device as recited in claim 1,wherein the length of said funnel is approximately 1 and {fraction(3/4)} inches.
 5. A female urinary device as recited in claim 1, whereinthe diameter of said funnel at its widest point is 0.96 of an inch.
 6. Afemale urinary device as recited in claim 1, wherein said nipple has alength of approximately {fraction (1/2)} of an inch.
 7. A female urinarydevice adapted to facilitate urination by a female when the female isstanding, comprising: a compact funnel member, said funnel memberfabricated from a flexible plastic material and having a length ofapproximately 1¾ inches and a diameter at its widest point ofapproximately 0.96 of an inch; a contoured opening formed on said funnelmember, said opening contoured to conform to a labial area of a female'sanatomy; a hemispherical base portion positioned opposite said contouredopening; a nipple integral with said funnel member, said nipple having apassageway opening into said hemispherical base portion; and an elongatetube, said tube frictionally attached to said nipple and extendingtherefrom.
 8. A female urinary device as recited in claim 7, whereinsaid elongate tube is fabricated from-a latex material.
 9. A femaleurinary device as recited in claim 8, wherein said nipple has a lengthof approximately ½ of an inch.